Case studies will be carried out in second-order Polish and Czech cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants already facing shrinkage processes in terms of population, infrastructure and economic performance. In Poland, Gdańsk and Łódź are considered, in the Czech Republic, Brno and Ostrava. The analyses therefore focus on old-industrialised regions characterised by substantial social, economic and demographic transformation problems and a heterogeneous urban fabric.

Special attention is paid to old built-up areas in the inner cities. After decades of decay and dilapidation, in the future far-reaching residential transformations linked with changing social and demographic structures are to be expected in these neighbourhoods.

Gdańsk
Population 456.100 (2006)
Population decrease 1991-2006: -1,8 %

Łódź
Population 760.300 (2006)
Population decrease 1991-2006: -10,4 %

Brno
Population 366.700 (2006)
Population decrease 1991-2006: -6,6 %

Ostrava
Population 309.100 (2006)
Population decrease 1991-2006: -6,8 %